Mechanism for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms



Dec. 22, 1936. w. D. THOMAS MECHANISM FOR USE IN APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHO E BOTTOMS Filed Aug. 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 22, 1936. TH MA 2,064,959

MECHANISM FOR USE IN APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTTOMS Filed Aug. 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 film/74R m Q: M

Dec. 22, 1936. w. D. THOMAS 2,064,959 MECHANISM FOR USE IN APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BOTT OMS Filed Aug. 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A/VE/VTU/R My 1%..

W. D. THOMAS Dec. 22, 1936. 2,064,959

MECHANISM FOR USE IN APPLYING PRESSURE TO SHOE BbT TOMS.

4 Sheets$heet 4 Filed Aug. 7, 1935 Fig.7.

Patented Dec. 22, 1936 cars STATES PATENT OFFICE MECHANISM FOR USE IN APPLYING PRESSURE T SHOE BOTTOMS Application August 7, 1935, Serial No. 35,117

19 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for applying pressure to shoe bottoms and is illustrated herein as embodied in a machine for cement attaching soles to shoes.

Pressing devices of the type referred to usually comprise a box-like structure containing a flexible pad for receiving a sole and shoe and constructed and arranged to press these members together when they are forced against the pad by pressing means such, for example, as abutments adapted to engage the forepart of the shoe and the cone of the last in the shoe. The pad is generally molded to conform substantially to the shape of the shoe bottom and it is especially desirable in operating these devices to locate the sole and shoe on the pad so that the molded portions thereof, particularly that section which engages the shank portion of the shoe bottom, will be in position to press against 20 those portions of the shoe bottom which they are shaped to engage. This not only insures .a much better sole-attaching operation but also substantially increasing the life of the pad.

Objects of the present invention are to pro- Vide improved means for positioning a sole and shoe relatively to each other on a pressureapplying pad and to provide improved mechanism for initially locating the sole in such a manner that when a shoe is properly positioned thereon the conformed portions of the pad will be in position to engage those portions of the shoe bottom which they are adapted to engage.

To the attainment of these objects the invention provides, in accordance with one of its 35 features, improved means for engaging the heel portion of a shoe sole placed on the pad and for locating such portion within predetermined narrow limits transversely of the pad. As illustrated herein, the locating means comprises a pivoted member or tongue adapted to engage the heel portion of the sole on its longitudinal median line. The tongue is movable longitudinally of the pad and is adjustable by an eccentrio adjusting member laterally of the pad about a temporary axis to locate the heel portion of the sole so that its longitudinal median line will be positioned on or, if desired, at a pretermined distance from the longitudinal median line of the pad, thereby causing the shank and heel portions of a shoe, the forepart of which has been properly positioned with respect to the forepart of the sole, to be located in the desired lateral position relatively to the conformed surface of the pad.

After the forepart of a shoe has been positioned on the sole, the illustrated mechanism provides further means for finding and holding the heel portion of the positioned shoe without moving the shoe. As illustrated, the finding means comprises a pair of feeler members piv- I oted for movement independently of each other toward and away from the shoe, said feelers being operated yieldingly by mechanism including rocker arms actuated by spiral earns the surfaces of which also act to prevent movement of the feelers away from the shoe after they have engaged the same.

In order to ascertain the lateral position of the heel portion of the positioned shoe, the invention further provides, in accordance with another of its features, means positioned by movement of the feeler members into engagement with the shoe for determining the position of the longitudinal median line of the heel portion of the shoe and also provides additional means for shifting the sole locating member or tongue transversely of the pad in accordance with such position to bring the heel portion of the sole into proper transverse alinement with the heel portion of the shoe. As herein illustrated, the determining means comprises a floating block between the feelers and connections between the block and feelers whereby the block is shifted laterally an amount controlled by the lateral position of the heel end of the shoe. The block has a slot formed therein and the sole locating member is arranged to be swung laterally about an axis formed by the adjusting member from an initial position determined by adjustment into a final position determined by the slot, thereby shifting the heel portion of the sole the proper amount transversely of the pad to move such portion into the desired position relatively to the heel portion of the shoe.

If it is desired to position the heel portion of a sole off center relatively to the bottom of a normal shoe, or if it is desired to over-correct a badly distorted sole, means is provided in the form of an adjustment whereby the floating member may be initially moved off center relatively to the longitudinal median line of the sole so that the transverse movement thereof caused by the feelers will be either increased or diminished, as the case may be, to cause the floating member and. the sole-engaging tongue to be shifted either more or less laterally than it would be by the movement of the feelers alone into engagement with the sides of the shoe.

With the above and other objects and features in view the invention will now be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pad box in which the heel gaging mechanism of the present invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the heel gaging mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the mechanism as viewed from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale through the heel gaging mechanism taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the mechanism taken on the line VV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale and partly broken away of the mechanism for shifting the heel end of a sole relatively to a shoe; and

Fig. '7 is a front elevation of the pad box illustrating also the pressure-applying mechanism of a cement sole-attaching machine.

The heel gaging mechanism of the present invention is particularly adapted for use on the pad box of a cement sole-attaching machine of the type disclosed in an application for Letters Patent Serial No. 636,202, filed October 4, 1932, in the names of Milton I-I. Ballard et al. As disclosed in the application referred to the pad box comprises a rectangular frame or box It) in which is mounted a pad i2, the pad box being provided at its forward end with a plurality of sole and shoe-engaging members M, 16 arranged respectively to find the forepart of a sole on,the pad at about the ball line and. tip line and to position the forepart of a shoe relatively to the sole, the members l4, l6 carrying both sole and shoe gages the latter of which are adjustable relatively to the sole gages. As described in the application mentioned, the forepart sole and shoe gages are arranged to be moved yieldingly through the operation of springs toward the forepart of a sole placed by an operator on the pad and mechanism (not shown) is provided for locking the gages in position after they have engaged the edge faces of the sole, thereby positioning the shoe gages properly to receive the forepart of a shoe and to locate it in the proper position relatively to the sole. After being locked, the gages I l, I6 hold the shoe in position so that the lateral position of the shank and heel portions of the shoe relatively to the pad is definitely determined. Accordingly, in order to bring the heel portion of the sole into proper alinement with the heel portion of the positioned shoe it is necessary if the sole is not already in alinement with the shoe bottom to move the heel portion of the sole transversely or widthwise of the pad until it is properly located or centralized relatively to the heel portion of the shoe. The mechanism of the present invention is constructed and arranged to accomplish this, and, in addition, to locate the heel portion of the sole initially in such a position on the pad that the heel portion of the shoe, after the latter has been positioned by the forepart gages l4, [5, will be located more nearly in the central portion of a pad and thus overlie the molded portions which are shaped to conform substantially to the longitudinal and transverse curvatures of the shoe bottom.

As illustrated in the application referred to above, the heel end of the pad box is provided with a vertical T-slot l8 (Fig. 1) in which is mounted a bracket 20 arranged for vertical sliding movement in the slot and normally maintained at the upper limit of its sliding movement by a pair of tension springs 22, this limit being determined by the head of a screw 24 (Fig. 2) threaded into the lower side of the pad box and engaging a lug 26 formed on the lower end of the bracket 20. The upper end of the bracket extends rearwardly, as viewed in Fig. 1, at an angle of about 3 to the longitudinal median line of the pad box Ill and is provided on its upper side with a centrally located T-slot 28. Mounted for horizontal sliding movement in the slot 28 is a slide member 30 (Figs. 4 and 5) at the forward end of which is pivoted, on a transverse pin 32, a sole-engaging member or tongue 34 carrying on the under side of its outer end a short pin 36 which is adapted to engage a hole formed on the longitudinal median line of the heel portion of a sole. In its inoperative position the tongue 34 is swung away from the surface of the pad, as shown in Fig. 4, and is provided with a handle 88 whereby it may be moved about its pivot toward the pad to engage a sole placed thereon. In order to maintain the tongue in either one of its two positions its handle 38 is provided with a lug in which is mounted a spring-pressed detent M3, the end of the detent being shaped to engage a V-shaped depression in the slide member 39 to hold the tongue in its upper position. The detent engages an inclined surface on the slide when the handle 38 is swung to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, to hold the tongue in its lower or operative position against a sole on the pad.

The upper side of the slide 30 is provided with two longitudinally extending walls 42 the rear one of which is shown in Fig. 4 and which form a guideway for a second relatively short slide 44 carrying at its forward end a roll 46. Above the slide 44 is a carrier member 48 secured to the lower slide 30 at its rear end by means of an eccentric pin 50 having a knurled head BI and an eccentric portion 53, the pin passing through the carrier member and slide 30 and having a nut 52 threaded on its lower end to fasten it in these members. The eccentric pin 50 can be rotated in the carrier member 48 and the slide 30 to cause its eccentric portion 53 to adjust the slide relatively to the carrier member as will hereinafter appear. A plate 54 is secured to the upper side of the carrier member by a screw 56 opposite an enlarged portion of the eccentric pin 50, the inner edge of the plate being graduated, as shown in Fig. l, to indicate the adjusted position of the pin. The forward end of the carrier member 48 is provided with a flange 58 (Fig. 4) which extends under a lip 60 on the slide 30, thereby holding the forward portions of the two members in assembled position.

The roll 46, carried by the short slide 44, is normally located in a fixed open slot 62 extending through the central portion of the carrier member, this slot being located on the longitudinal median line of the heel gaging mechanism and, consequently, being located at an angle of substantially 3 to the longitudinal median line of the pad box. When the eccentric 50 is rotated to adjust the slide 30 and the tongue 3 1 carried thereby laterally of the pad, the slide members 30 and 44 pivot about a temporary axis coinciding with the axis of the roll 46 which is then held stationary in the fixed 'slot 62. The sole-engaging pin 36, as illustrated ing operation. In order to locate the pin 36 properly for operating on the two latter types of soles, the tongue is adjusted laterally by the eccentric pin 50 about the axis of the roll 45 in the manner described, thereby moving the pin 35 transversely of the pad. into a predetermined position governed by the amount that the longitudinal median line of the heel end of the sole should be located on the pad either to the right or left of its longitudinal median line to cause the shank and heel portions of a shoe operatively positioned on the sole to overlie the portions of the pad which are conformed to engage said shank and heel portions. As shown in Fig. 1, a toothed member 63 is provided for holding the eccentric 5D in any adjusted position.

At its rear end the carrier member 48 is pro vided with bosses having vertical holes 85 (Fig. 1) in which are secured by set screws 66 (Fig. 3) a pair of studs 68. Pivoted on the studs are forwardly extending arms or feelers ID, the forward ends of which are arranged to engage the heel portion of a shoe positioned on the sole and held in position by the forepart gages M, It. At a considerable distance forwardly of their pivots 68 the feelers 'lfl carry vertical pins 12 (Figs. 1 and 5) which extend downwardly beyond the feelers and have enlarged portions 14 which are rotatably received in openings in a pair of slide blocks '15 arranged for sliding movement longitudinally of the mechanism in a pair of slides 16 arranged for transverse sliding movement in a guideway ll extending at right angles to the guideway 28. The lower ends of the pivot pins 12 are reduced in size and extend into transverse slots 18 formed in the slide member 39. The slots 18 determine the outer limit of the pivotal movement of the feeler members Hi and the pins 12 are normally held against the outer ends of the slots by means of compression springs Bil (Fig. 1) seated in openings formed in the carrier member 48 and engaging downwardly extending lugs 82 formed on the feelers 10. Movement of the transverse slide members 76 toward each other in the guideway ll causes the feeler members If! to swing about the pivots 64 to move their inner ends into engagement with the heel portion of the shoe,

thereby finding the shoe and holding it in the position in which it is initially located relatively to the longitudinal median line of the pad by the forepart gage members M, It. Movement of the transverse slides 16 is effected by the following mechanism.

Pivoted on a horizontal pin 84 mounted in the lower end of the vertical bracket 29 (Figs. 2 and 3) is a yoked lever 86 having a pair of rearwardly extending arms 81 and a central portion 88 which extends between cars 99 formed on the lower end of the bracket, the central portion 88 carrying a barrel roll 92. The arms 81 are normally maintained in the lowered position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a cam member '94 pivotally secured to the bracket '20 by a stud 96 and arranged to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3) by a rod '98 connected to the cam member by a universal joint 10B and pivotally connected at its other end by a universal connection :52 to a swinging frame member I84 with which the machine of the application referred to is provided for carrying last and shoe-engaging abutments I05, I01 constructed and arranged to press a sole and shoe against the pad in the pad box and thereby apply the sole-attaching pressure. As illustrated in the application mentioned, the swinging frame member I04 of the machine is provided with a handle Hi9 which is grasped by the operator to swing the member forwardly about a horizontal axis to locate the abutments H35, H31 in pressure-applying position over a shoe and sole mounted on the pad. Further mechanism is provided for thereafter causing the abutments to descend into engagement with the last and shoe and to apply the sole-attaching pressure.

Fastened to the outer ends of the arms Bl are cables I86 which extend upwardly around double grooved pulleys H18 (Fig. 5) rotatably mounted on a pair 'of fixed shafts H secured by set screws 1 ii in the bracket 29. Each of the cables I is passed from one groove of its pulley to the other through the intervening flange to prevent the cable from slipping and to cause the pulley to rotate on the shaft Ill]. The other end of each cable is connected to the downwardly projecting end of a torsion spring H4 (Figs. 2 and 3) each mounted on a stud screw HE? threaded horizontally into an upper portion of the bracket 20. When the lower end of the projection of the cam 94 is rotated out of engagement with the roll 92, the arms 81 are swung upwardly by the torsion springs H4 acting through the cables I06, thereby causing the pulleys to rotate on the fixed shafts HG. Each pulley I08 has formed on its outer side a cam l 18 (Fig. 5) which rotates with the pulley. Engaging the exposed surfaces of the cams H8 are curved rocker arms I20 pivoted on pins I22 secured by set screws IEG in the upper portion of the bracket 29. The upper ends of the rocker arms H20 are arranged to engage the outer ends of the transverse slide members 76 and to force these members inwardly toward each other thereby swinging the feeler members '10 inwardly into engagement with the heel portion of the positioned shoe. The angle of inclination of the surfaces on the cams i if! is such that the rocker arms are prevented from moving in a reverse direction after the feelers have engaged the shoe so that the gages are locked against movement away from the shoe after they have engaged the opposite sides of its heel portion.

The inner portion of the upper slide member 16, as viewed in Fig. l, is reduced in size and is provided with rack teeth [26. The other slide member 16 is provided with a groove on the side opposite the rack teeth R6 of the first slide and in this groove is mounted an adjustable bar I28 provided on its inner end with rack teeth i361. Slidably mounted in the transverse guideway ll, between the two slide members 16, is a floating block I32 having a pinion 134 rotatably mounted on a cylindrical projection on its upper side. This pinion is engaged by the rack teeth G25,

we on the slide members l6, E5. The lower side of the floating block I32 is provided with a slot I36 similar to the fixed slot 62 in the carrier member 68, the open end of the slot I36 facing the slot 62. Both slots have outwardly diverging side Walls, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and the center of the slot I36 is normally located on the longitudinal median line of the positioning mechanism when the mechanism is in an inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 1. Movement of the feeler arms I9 into engagement with the opposite sides of the positioned shoe, however, causes the opposite rack teeth of the slides I6 to relocate the pinion I34 and the floating block E32 transversely of the pad. When one feeler It engages the shoe the rack on the slide associated with that feeler stops and, as the opposite feeler continues to move toward the shoe, the rack on the slide associated therewith causes the pinion to be moved along the stationary rack to a position one side or the other of the longitudinal median line of the mechanism, this position being determined, of course, by the distance the second feeler travels before it engages the side of the shoe. In this way the floating block I32 is shifted transversely of the pad in accordance with the width of the heel portion of the shoe and also in accordance with the angular or lateral position of this portion of the shoe relatively to the longitudinal median line of the pad. Accordingly, the slot I66 in the floating block E32 will be shifted laterally to find the longitudinal median line of the heel portion of the positioned shoe and thereby to determine the lateral position into which the heel portion or the sole must be moved to bring it into the desired alinement with the heel portion of the shoe.

After the above action has taken place further mechanism is operated automatically to cause the tongue 34 to be shifted laterally of the pad into a position controlled by the position of the variable slot I36 in the floating block i152. This mechanism will now be described.

The horizontal stud 66 in the bracket 26 is provided with an enlarged outer end 838 (Fig. 2) which is bored vertically to receive a pin Hill extending downwardly from the lower side of a Vertical slide member I42, the upper portion of which is elongated longitudinally of the mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided with a relatively narrow horizontal surface Idil located centrally with respect to the heel-positioning mechanism. A pair of lugs M6 project laterally at opposite sides of the elongated portion of the member I62 and are provided with vertical pins it? which extend upwardly into holes formed in the bracket 26, thereby supporting the member I42 for vertical sliding movement relatively to the bracket. The lower portion of the sliding member I M carries a roll I66 which is located in a position to be engaged by another projecting portion I 38 on the cam member 9 when the latter is rotated about its pivot 96 by the rod 98, thereby causing the slide member I 'l2 to be elevated relatively to the bracket 26.

The slide member 30, which carries the soleengaging tongue 64, is provided about midway of its length with a pair of downwardly projecting ears I50 (Fig. 4.-) between which is pivoted on a pin I52 a bell-crank lever I 3. The upper arm of the bell-crank lever extends through a slot I56 in the slide 36 and enters an opening I558 in the short slide member i l which carries the horizontal roll 56;. The lower arm of the bellcrank lever is provided with a roll Hill which, when the slide member I42 is elevated, is engaged by the horizontal surface Hi l thereon to rotate the bell-crank lever in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot I52. It will be seen in Figs. 2 and 4 that the surface I44 is long enough to engage the roll I66 irrespective of the position of the heel-engaging mechanism longitudinally of the pad box. The bell-crank lever I56 is held normally in the position shown in Fig. 4 by means of a tension spring I62 connected at one end to the upper arm of the lever and at its other end to a pin I64 extending downwardly from the slide member 30. Rotation of the bell-crank lever in the manner described causes the short slide 44 to move forwardly in the guideways 42 and to move the roll 46 from the fixed central slot 62 into the variable slot I36 which has been positioned transversely of the mechanism in accordance with the position of the heel end of the shoe in the manner described above, the roll being guided into the slot by its diverging side walls. This action causes the slide member 30 and the tongue 34 to be swung laterally about an axis formed by the eccentric pin 50 to move the sole-engaging pin 35 and the sole engaged thereby transversely of the pad into alinement with the heel portion of the shoe. Thus it will be seen that, owing to the initial positioning of the heel end of the sole in a predetermined lateral position relatively to the longitudinal median line of the pad or within predetermined narrow limits relatively thereto, the shank and heel portions of the shoe are positioned on the sole by the forepart gages It, I 6 in such a. position that the conformed por tions of the sole-engaging surface of the pad will contact with those portions of the shoe bottom which they are shaped to engage under the sole-attaching pressure. Before the pressure is applied, however, the heel portion of the sole is shifted laterally of the pad by the tongue 34 from said predetermined position or outside said limits an amount necessary to bring the shank and heel portions of the sole into proper alinement with the corresponding portions of the shoe bottom.

In order to permit the heel portion of a sole to be shifted laterally on the pad a distance which Will locate such portion somewhat off center with respect to the shoe bottom, as is desired in some types of shoes, and in order to permit the mechanism to produce an over-correction when operating on soles the shank and heel portions of which are badly distorted laterally relatively to their foreparts, an adjustment is provided for obtaining a greater lateral movement of the sole-engaging tongue than would result from the positioning of the floating block laterally by movement of the feelers I6 alone into engagement with the heel portion of the positioned shoe. As stated above, the rack teeth I36 (Figs. 1 and 6) are not integral with the transverse slide ?6 but are formed on a separate rack bar I28 slidably mounted in a groove on the slide I6. Threaded into the outer end of the transverse slide 76 is a hand screw I 66 (Fig. 1) provided with an integral collar or ring I68 which enters a groove I16 in a forwardly projecting portion of the rack bar. The bar is graduated to indicate its position relatively to the slide and, by adjusting the screw I66, the bar may be moved toward or away from the center line of the mechanism to move the pinion I 54 along the then stationary rack portion I26 of the opposite slide 76 and thereby initially position the slot I36 in the floating block at a predetermined distance one side or the other of the longitudinal median line of the mechanism. When operating, for example on a sole the shank and heel portions of which are located at a relatively great angle to the forepart, the tongue 34 is adjusted by the eccentric pin; 5% about the temporary axis formed by the roll 46 so that the pin 36 is located off center relatively to the median line of the pad sufiiciently to cause the shank portion of the sole to overlie the molded portion of the pad as nearly as possible. When the forepart of the shoe is positioned on the sole by the gage members M, iii, the shank and heel portions of the shoe will likewise substantially overlie the conformed portion of the pad. When the feelers are moved into engagement with the heel portion of the shoe they will shift the floating block I32 and slot I36 from the centralized position shown in Fig- 1 in a direction controlled by the position and shape of the heel portion of the shoe. Since the block 532 has already been adjusted ofi center by the hand screw I66 in the proper direction to over-correct the distorted sole, the block and slot will have-been moved off center a distance equal to the amount the block is moved by the feelers plus or minus the amount of initial adjustment of the block depending on which side of the longitudinal median line of the shoe the correction or offset is desired. Accordingly, when the roll it is moved by the bell-crank lever I55 from the fixed central slot 62 into the positioned slot 536 the tongue 34 will be shifted laterally about the pivot formed by the eccentric pin 553 in the proper direction and an amount sufficient to centralize the sole relatively to the shoe bottom plus or minus the over-correction caused by the initial adjustment of the rack bar I28 in the manner described. When operating on soles the shank and heel portions of which are at a substantial angle to the foreparts but which are intended to be that way, as in certain types of corrective shoes, the adjustment I66 may not be needed provided the angle or lateral position of the rear portion of the shoe relatively to the forepart thereof is substantially the same as that of the rear portion of the outsole relatively to its forepart. In such cases the mechanism may be operated from a centralized position, as shown in Fig. 1, to bring the rear portion of the sole into proper transverse alinement with the rear portion of the shoe.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a shoe sole, means pivoted for adjustment laterally of the pad for engaging the heel portion of a sole placed on the pad and locating said portion within predetermined narrow limits transversely of the pad, said means being normally fixed in adjusted position, means for positioning the forepart of a shoe relatively to the forepart of the sole, and means for swinging said sole locating means transversely of the pad without regard to said limits to position the heel portion of the sole relatively to the heel portion of the shoe.

2. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a shoe sole, means arranged to pivot about an axis extending heightwise. of the pad for engaging the. heel portion of a sole placed on, the pad and locating the center line of said portion on or. at, a. predetermined shortv distance from. the longitudinal medianline .of the pad,

means for positioning the forepart of a shoe relatively to the forepart of the sole and for holding it in such position, and means for r0- tating the sole locating means about its axis transversely of the pad within or outside of said predetermined distance to bring the heel portion of the sole into proper alinement with the heel portion of the shoe.

3. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a shoe sole, means arranged for pivotal movement laterally of the pad for engaging a sole placed on the pad and locating it within predetermined positions transversely of the pad, means for limiting lateral pivotal movement of said locating means until a shoe is to be pressed against the sole, and means for thereafter causing greater pivotal movement of said locating means to position the sole transversely of the shoe bottom.

4. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a shoe sole, pivotal means movable transversely of the pad about a vertical axis for engaging the heel portion of a sole placed on the pad and temporarily holding said portion on the pad within predetermined narrow limits relatively to the longitudinal median line of the pad, means for preventing pivotal movement of said holding means during its holding action, and means for causing said holding means to pivot about its axis to move the heel end of the sole transversely of the pad either within or outside of said predetermined limits and thereby'toposition the heel portion of the sole relatively to the heel portion of a shoe which has been mounted thereon.

5. A pad box for applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a shoe sole, means pivoting about an axis extending heightwise of the pad for engaging a sole placed on the pad and positioning it within a predetermined distance either side of the longitudinal median line of the pad, means for engaging a shoe placed on said sole, and means for automatically rotating the sole-engaging means about its axis to move the sole laterally of the pad either within or beyond said predetermined distance to position the sole transversely of the shoe bottom.

6. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole, means arranged to pivot about axes extending heightwise of the pad for locating the heel portion of the sole in a predetermined position on the pad, means for initially adjusting said locating means transversely of the pad about one axis, means for locating the forepart of a shoe relatively to the forepart of the sole, means for engaging the heel portion of the shoe, and meansfor causingthe sole. locating means to pivot laterally of the pad. about another axis to position the heel portion of the sole relatively to the heel portion of the shoe.

'7. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a shoe sole, means adjustable about a vertical axis for positioning the heel portion of the sole with its longitudinal center line on or at a predetermined distance from the longitudinal. median line of the pad, means for adjusting the sole-positioning means, means for locating the forepart of a shoe relatively to the forepart of the sole, means forfinding the-heel portion' of the. shoe, and means operated by said position to bring the heel portion of the sole into proper alinement with the heel portion of the shoe.

8. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a shoe sole, means for locating the heel portion of the sole with its center line on, or at a limited distance either side of, the longitudinal median line of the pad, said means being arranged to pivot about an axis extending heightwise of the pad, means for finding the forepart of the sole where it is located on the pad and for positioning the forepart of a shoe relatively thereto, means for engaging the heel portion of the shoe, and means positioned by said shoeengaging means for effecting pivotal movement of the sole locating means transversely of the pad to move the heel portion of the sole into proper transverse alinement with the shoe bottom.

9. A pad box foruse in applying pressure to 1 shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a shoe sole, means for locating the heel portion of a sole in a predetermined position laterally of the pad, means for initially adjusting said locating means into said position, means for positioning the forepart of a shoe relatively to the forepart of the sole, said means being constructed and arranged to hold the shoe and sole in such position so that the position of the heel portion of the shoe is thereby determined, feelers for engaging the heel portion of the shoe, means for maintaining said feelers in position after they have engaged the shoe, and means operated by the feelers for thereafter causing movement of the sole locating means laterally of the pad out of said predetermined position to position the shank and heel portions of the sole in the desired transverse alinement with the corresponding portions of the shoe bottom.

10. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole, a tongue for engaging the sole and locating its heel portion in a predetermined position transversely of the pad, means for positioning the forepart of a shoe relatively to the forepart of the sole and holding the sole and shoe in such position, pivoted means for finding the heel portion of the shoe, means for operating said finding means yieldingly, mechanism positioned by said finding means for causing the tongue to shift laterally to move shank and heel portions of the sole into proper alinement with corresponding portions of the shoe, and means for returning said finding means and said mechanism to inoperative position.

11. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a shoe sole, a slide movable longitudinally of the pad, means pivoted on the slide for engaging the heel portion of a sole on its longitudinal median line and initially locating said portion in a fixed lateral position relatively to the longitudinal median line of the pad, means for positioning the forepart of a shoe relatively to the forepart of the sole and holding it in such position, means on the slide for finding the heel portion of the shoe, means positioned by said finding means for determining the longitudinal center line of the heel portion of the shoe, and means for swinging the sole-engaging means laterally of the pad out of said fixed position to ace 1,959

bring the median line of the sole into alinement with said center line.

12. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole, means arranged to pivot about a vertical axis-for engaging the sole on the longitudinal median line of its heel portion and locating such portion in a predetermined lateral position relatively to the longitudinal median line of the pad, means for finding the forepart of the sole on the pad and positioning the forepart of a shoe relatively thereto, said means being constructed and arranged to hold the sole and shoe in such position and thereby to determine the lateral position of the rear portion of the shoe, a pair of feelers for finding the opposite sides of the heel portion of the shoe thus positioned, means operated by said feelers for determining the longitudinal median line of the rear portion of the shoe, and means for causing the sole locating means to pivot about its axis to move the sole transversely of the pad into a position determined by said determining means and thereby to bring the rear portions of the sole and shoe into the desired relation to each other.

13. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole, a pivoted member movable longitudinally of the pad for engaging the heel portion of a sole on its longitudinal median line and locating said portion on the pad in a predetermined transverse position, means for finding and holding the forepart of the sole and locating the forepart of a shoe relatively thereto, thereby determining the position of the rear portion of the shoe relatively to the pad, feelers movable longitudinally with the pivoted member for engaging the rear portion of the shoe, slides pivoted to said feelers, floating means operated by movement of said slides for determining the position of the longitudinal median line of the rear portion of the shoe, and means for automatically moving the pivoted member laterally out of said predetermined position into a position determined by the fioating member.

14. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole, a tongue for engaging the heel portion of the sole on its longitudinal median line and locating said portion laterally of the pad, means for adjusting said tongue into different predetermined lateral positions, means for relatively positioning the foreparts of the sole and of a shoe mounted thereon and for holding them in such position, feelers for finding the rear portion of the positioned shoe, means for operating said feelers independently of each other, a floating block connected to said feelers and arranged to be moved transversely of the pad by movement of the feelers into engagement with the shoe, thereby determining the lateral position of the rear portion of the shoe, and connections between the block and the tongue for causing the tongue to shift laterally into a position determined by the block, thereby moving the rear portion of the sole into alinement with the rear portion of the shoe.

15. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole, a tongue for engaging the heel portion of the sole and locating it in a predetermined position laterally of the pad, said tongue being arranged for movement transversely of the pad about a vertical axis, means for relatively positioning the foreparts of the sole and. a shoe placed on the sole and for holding said members 3 in such position, feelers for finding the heel portion of the positioned shoe, mechanism operated by said feelers for indicating the position of the longitudinal median line of the heel portion of the shoe bottom relatively to the longitudinal median line of the pad, and means for adjusting said mechanism transversely of the pad to cause it to position the longitudinal median line of the sole at a predetermined distance either side of the longitudinal median line of the shoe bottom.

16. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole, a pivoted tongue for engaging the heel portion of a sole and locating it in a predetermined lateral position on the pad, said tongue pivoting initially about an axis which is temporarily fixed, means for adjusting the tongue about said axis to adapt the tongue for operating on soles the shank and heel portions of which are in different lateral relations to their foreparts, said means comprising an eccentric pin about which the tongue may also pivot, means for relatively positioning the foreparts of the sole and a shoe mounted thereon and for holding them in such position, feelers for finding and holding the heel portion of the positioned shoe, floating mechanism connected to the feelers for determining the lateral position of the shank and heel portions of the shoe, means for shifting the temporary axis laterally in accordance with the position of said floating mechanism, thereby causing the tongue to pivot about said eccentric pin to centralize the shank and heel portions of the sole relatively to the shank and heel portions of the shoe, and means for adjusting said floating mechanism to cause the shank and heel portions of the sole to be located a predetermined distance ofi center relatively to the shoe bottom.

17. A pad box for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms having, in combination, a pad for receiving a sole, a carrier member movable longitudinally of the pad and provided with a fixed slot the center of which is substantially in line with the longitudinal median line of the pad, a tongue pivoted to said carrier member for engaging the heel portion of the sole on its longitudinal median line and positioning said median line on or at a predetermined distance laterally of the longitudinal median line of the pad, a slide on the tongue, a roll on said slide entering the slot in the carrier member and forming a pivot about which said member swings, an eccentric for adjusting said tongue about said pivot to position it laterally for soles the rear portions of which are in different lateral positions relatively to their foreparts, means for finding the forepart of the sole and positioning the forepart of a shoe relatively thereto, said means operating to hold the shoe in such position, a pair of feelers pivoted on the carrier member for finding and holding the heel portion of the shoe, transverse slides pivotally connected to said feelers and having rack teeth, a movable block between said slides carrying a pinion meshing with said rack teeth, said block having a slot normally centralized with respect to the longitudinal median line of the pad,

rocker arms on the carrier member for engaging the slides and operating the feelers, thereby positioning the movable slot laterally in accordance with the position of the heel portion of the shoe, cams for rocking said rocker arms, spring means for rotating said cams, and means for automatically moving the roll from the fixed slot into the positioned slot thereby causing the tongue to swing about said eccentric laterally of the pad to shift the rear portion of the sole transversely into alinement with the rear portion of the shoe.

18. In a machine for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms, the combination of a pad box, a pad in the box for receiving a shoe sole, means movable into position over the pad for pressing a sole and shoe against said pad, means for engaging the heel portion of a sole placed on the pad and locating said portion in a predetermined position laterally of the pad, said means being arranged to pivot about an axis extending heightwise of the pad, means for 10- cating the forepart of a shoe relatively to the forepart of the sole, feelers for finding the heel portion of the shoe without moving it, floating means positioned by the feelers for causing the sole locating means to pivot about its axis laterally of the pad to move the rear portion of the sole into alinement with the rear portion of the shoe, and connections between said feelers and the pressing means for operating the feelers and the floating means when the pressing means is moved into operative position over the pad.

19. In a machine for use in applying pressure to shoe bottoms, the combination of a pad box, a pad in the pad box for receiving a shoe sole, a swinging presser member movable into position over the pad for pressing a sole and shoe thereon, a tongue initially adjustable about a temporary vertical axis for engaging the heel portion 'of a sole on its longitudinal median line and positioning said portion in a predetermined lateral position relatively to the longitudinal median line of the pad, eccentric means for adjusting the tongue about said axis into said predetermined lateral position, means for locating the forepart of a shoe relatively to the forepart of the sole and for holding said members in such position, feelers arranged to swing about separate axes for finding and holding the heel portion of the positioned shoe, mechanism for swinging said feelers about their axes independently of each other, means positioned by movement of the feelers toward the shoe for determining the final position of the longitudinal median line of the heel portion of the sole, connections between the feelers and the swinging presser member for operating said feelers when said presser member is swung over the pad, and means for thereafter automatically causing the tongue to rotate transversely of the pad about said eccentric adjusting means in accordance with the position determined by said determining means, thereby centralizing the heel portion of the sole relatively to the heel portion of the shoe.

WILLIAM D. THOMAS. 

